Combination stabilizing and reaming apparatus



Jan. 29, 1963 DE ORR COOK 3,075,590

COMBINATION STABILIZING AND REAMING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 26. 1960INVENTOR.

DE ORR COOK FIG-.l. F'|s.2. BY

W2 @wga ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,075,599 COMBINATIUN TAEELEZY1NGAND APPARATUS De Orr Cook, 85 Eugenia Drive, Ventura, Calif. Filed Feb.26, 1960, Ser. No. 11,228 2 Claims. (Ql. 175-295) This inventiongenerally relates to well drilling operations and tools for use in drillpipe strings, and more particularly concerns a stabilizer or reamer tooldesigned for interposition in the string to be employed for the functionof continuously reaming out the bore hole as well as maintaining thestring concentrically positioned within the bore hole.

Apparatus functioning for this purpose, for example, is disclosed inapplicants Patent No. 2,869,827, issued January 20, 1959, entitledRetrievable Stabilizer for Well Bores.

The combination stabilizing and reaming apparatus of the presentinvention, however, is also directed to certain additional functions notcontemplated by the tool disclosed in the aforementioned patent.

When drilling through certain formations, the particular stabilizer orreamer device as such may become stuck or impacted in the bore hole.Usually, the stabilizer or reamer is at least as large in diameter ifnot greater in diameter than any of the other components of the drillpipe string. In consequence, although the stabilizer and/ or reamer mayitself be stuck, the remainder of the string under such circumstances isusually free for rotation, at

least above and immediately below the stabilizer,

The most common condition causing freezing of the stabilizer in the wellmay be attributed to keyseating; for example, when drilling through asoft formation in which the drill pipe (under tension) is operatedthrough a crooked hole. In other instances, upon stoppage ofcirculation, drill cuttings may accumulate about the stabilizer andeffectively freeze it and the coupled string in the hole.

In the past, it has usually been necessary to remove the free portion ofthe column or string above the particular point at which the pipe isfrozen, and thereafter recover the lower portion by fishing operations.In this practice, it is first necessary to ascertain the location of thefrozen pipe, and thereafter lower a light chargeof string shot explosivecord to the top of the critical zone, where it is detonated to deliver asharp jar to the pipe sufficient to loosen the threaded joint in thenearest collar. The free pipe may then be released by turning itcounter-clockwise at the surface and removed from the well. Theparticular fishing operation may then be commenced to recover the stuckportion of the column.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stabilizer andreaming apparatus which is so constructed 1 and mounted on the drillpipe string that it may in the event of keyseating or the likeco-function with the drill pipe string to jar itself loose instead ofrequiring the entire free portion of the string above it to beremovedand fishing operations employed, as heretofore mentioned.

Another object -of the present invention is to provide a relativelysimple and economically constructed combination stabilizing and reamingapparatus adapted for interposition in a drill pipe string, which willnot only perform its primary function of stabilizing the string andreaming the hole, but which also embodies means such that inco-operation with the string it may be jarred loose in the event ofkeyseating or otherwise becoming stuck in the hole.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide acombination stabilizing and reaming apparatus for use in a drill pipestring which is rugged in its construction and which has only a singlemovable part of relatively long life.

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These and other objects and advantages of the present invention aregenerally attained by providing in a drill pipe string a stabilizersleeve slidably mounted thereon for limited axial movement. Co-operativemeans are provided on the string and the sleeve for coupling the sleevein a first axial position relative to the string for rotation therewith.In addition, other co-operative means are provided on the string andsleeve for effecting a jarring of the sleeve when it is disposed in asecond axial position relative to the string.

In a preferred embodiment, the combination stabilizing and reamingapparatus is made up as a unitary tool for axial inter-position in thedrill pipe string and includes an elongated mandrel having an upper enddesigned to be r coupled to an upper part of the drill pipe string and alower end designed to be coupled to a lower part of the string. Themandrel has an intermediate reduced diameter portion of given axiallength to define spaced upper and lower shoulders.

In accordance with a primary feature of the present invention, astabilizing sleeve is slidably mounted on the reduced diameter portion,with the sleeve being of lesser axial length than the given axiallength, and with the sleeve defining a bottom end portion designed toengage the lower shoulder and a top end portion designed for coupling tothe upper shoulder. The lower shoulder and the bottom end portioninclude co-operating means designed upon engagement to effect axialjarring of the sleeve in response to a given direction of rotation ofthe mandrel relative to the sleeve.

A better understanding of the structure and functions of the combinedstabilizing and reaming apparatus of the present invention may be had byreference to the drawings, showing an illustrative embodiment, and inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a view of the combined stabilizer and reaming apparatus ofthe present invention with parts thereof being shown in section, andwith the stabilizer sleeve being coupled for normal clockwise rotationwith the drill column; and,

FIGURE 2 is a view of the apparatus of FIGURE 1 showing the parts of thecombination stabilizer and reamer apparatus in position for jarring ofthe stabilizer sleeve as such.

Referring now to the drawings there is shown in FIG- URE 1 a tubularbody or mandrel 10, which preferably comprises a part of the overalltool of the present invention but which could conceivably be a modifiedportion of the drill pipe string. The mandrel 10 is provided with apassage 11 for communication with the interior of the drill pipe string,and includes at its upper end a threaded joint 12 for connection to anupper part of the drill pipe string (not shown) in a conventionalmanner.

The mandrelltl is provided with a reduced diameter portion 13 includingthreading 14 at the upper end thereof.

The reduced diameter portion 13 has slidably mounted thereon astabilizer sleeve 15 having external fins or blades 16 similar to thosedescribed in the aforementioned Patent No. 2,869,827.

The sleeve 15 is pr0vided with internal threads 17 adapted for couplingto the threads 14 of the reduced diameter portion 13 in the manner asshown in FIG- URE l. r

The reduced diameter portion 13 further defines with the body of themandrel 10 an upper shoulder 18. i

The sleeve stabilizer 15 has provided at the lower end thereof ratchetor clutch teeth 19 designed in one relative positioning of the sleeve 15and mandrel 10 to engage a collar or lower end portion 20 of the mandrel10. The collar 20, towards this objective, includes mating teeth 21designed to co-operate with the clutch teeth 19 in a manner that willbecome clearer as the specification proceeds. The collar is preferably aseparate member expanded by heating and shrunk on to the mandrel 1h.

'1 he mandrel 10 terminates at its lower end in a threaded joint 22designed for coupling to a joint 23 of a lower part of the drill string24, all as more clearly shown in the view of FlGURE 2. Of course thelower portion of the drill string 24 also includes an inner passagedesigned for communication with the passage 11 and the passage of theupper part of the drill String (not shown) in a conventional manner forthe circulation of drilling mud.

The operation of the combined stabilizing and reaming apparatus of thepresent invention may now be described. In normal drilling practice, theapparatus will be axially interposed in the drilling column in themanner as shown in FiGURE 1 with the joint 12 threaded to an upper partof the drill string and the joint 22 threaded to a lower part 24 of thedrill string. As, in conventional practice, the drill string or columnwill be rotated clockwise (looking down) as indicated by the arrowadjacent I the sleeve 15. In the event that the stabilizer 13 becomesstuck because of keyseating or other freezing there of with respect tothe side walls of the bore hole, the present apparatus enables freeingof the sleeve 15 without removal of the drilling column or string.

Towards this end, as in conventional practice, a string shot is loweredto a point adjacent the threaded connection 22-23 with the explosivebeing detonated to loosen this joint preparatory to unthreading.Thereafter, the drill pipe column is rotated counter-clockwise to effectan unthreading of the joint 2223. It will be appreciated that as thejoint 2223 is being unthreaded, the upper thread 17 of the sleeve 15will also be unthreaded from the threads 14 on the reduced diameterportion 13. Toward this end, the threads 14 and 22 are both right handthreads; also, preferably the threads 14 are straight threads while thethreads 22 are tapered threads such that the thr aded joint 2223 will beuncoupled sooner than the joint made up of threads 14- 17. It isconceivable that if this design were different, that it would bepossible for relative axial movement to occur between the sleeve 15 andthe mandrel 10 to effect engagement of the teeth 19 and 21 prior to thetime that the joint 22-23 were loosened; in such event, furthercounter-clockwise rotation of the mandrel 16 could not be effected.

After the joints 2223 and 14-17 have been uncoupled, the drilling columnis lifted upwardly in the direction of the arrow into the position asshown in FIG- URE 2. Thus, the reduced diameter portion 13 will moveaxially upward relatively to the now stuck sleeve 15 since the sleeve 15has a slightly larger internal diameter than the reduced diameterportion 13.

Thereafter, the drilling string may again be rotated in a conventionalclockwise direction, while still maintaining the column or string undertension.

As this latter rotation occurs, the teeth 21 will be forced axiallydownwardly relative to the teeth 19 through 180 rotation because of theinclined mating surfaces, and thereafter jarred upwardly relative to theteeth 19 to cause a sudden impact on the lower end of the sleeve '15. Afurther 180 rotation will again effect a gradual lowering of the teeth21 to be terminated again by a sudden upward movement thereof, to againjar the sleeve 15. i

It will be appreciated after several revolutions of the drill pipecolumn and the resultant jarring occurring between the teeth 19 of thesleeve 15 and the teeth 21, that the stabilizer sleeve 15 will becomefree of the surrounding side walls so that the drilling operation mayagain be commenced.

At such time, the drill pipe column is again lowered such that thethreads are again coupled to the threads 23, and that the threads 14 ofthe reduced diameter portion 13 are again coupled to the upper threads17 of the stabilizer sleeve 15, by clockwise rotation of the drill pipestring.

Preferably, prior to making up the threaded connection between thesleeve and mandrel, the sleeve is pulled up the hole a short distance toassure that the threading connection between threads 14 and 17 will bemade up initially and prior to the joint 2223.

In the event that certain of the drill collars are also frozen in thewell hole, the tool after being made up, may be used as a reamer fordrilling up through the hole to condition it so that fishing tools maysafely be run in to regain the drill collars left in the hole. Ofcourse, if no drill collars were stuck, drilling may be commencedwithout any further work stoppage.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the combined stabilizing andreaming apparatus of the present invention not only functions for itsprimary purpose, but also enables a rugged and simple method ofexpeditiously loosening the stabilizer in the event it becomes stuck orfrozen in the side walls of the bore hole without the necessity ofremoving the drill column. In addition, the apparatus of the presentinvention is made up of only two parts, the sleeve and the mandrel, itbeing possible as heretofore mentioned to embody the mandrel as asection of the drill pipe string by modifying it as indicated.

Certain modifications and changes in the structure of the combinedstabilizing and reaming apparatus of the present invention will occur tothose skilled in the art. Such modifications and changes are deemed tofall within the scope of the present invention as set forth in thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A stabilizing and reaming apparatus comprising, in combination: amandrel having a threaded portion adjacent to its .upper end and ajarring means adjacent to its lower end spaced a given axial distancebelow said threaded portion; a stabilizing sleeve of axial length lessthan said given axial distance freely rotatable and slidable along saidmandrel between said threaded portion and said jarring means, saidsleeve having threads at its upper end for threaded connection to. saidthreaded portion when in a first position and cooperating jarring meansat its lower end for engagement with said jarring means adjacent to thelower end of said mandrel when axially moved to a second position,wherebysaid mandrel may form part of a drill pipe string and said sleeveheld against axial movement and rotated with said drill pipe string in afirst direction when in said first position in threaded engagement withsaid threaded portion, and whereby said drill pipe string may be rotatedin an op posite direction and raised to reposition said sleeve in saidsecond position to effect a jarring of said drill pipe string.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which said jarringmeans andcooperating jarring means comprise ratchet teeth on said lower end ofsaid mandrel and sleeve, respectively.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,535,935 McLean et al. Apr. 28, 1925 1,739,204 Banks Dec. 10, 19292,665,887 Shelton Jan. 12, 1954 2,717,764 Cannon Sept. 13, 19552,790,623 Pate et al. Apr. 30, 1957 2,869,827 Cook Jan. 20, 1959

1. A STABILIZING AND REAMING APPARATUS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: AMANDREL HAVING A THREADED PORTION ADJACENT TO ITS UPPER END AND AJARRING MEANS ADJACENT TO ITS LOWER END SPACED A GIVEN AXIAL DISTANCEBELOW SAID THREADED PORTION; A STABILIZING SLEEVE OF AXIAL LENGTH LESSTHAN SAID GIVEN AXIAL DISTANCE FREELY ROTATABLE AND SLIDABLE ALONG SAIDMANDREL BETWEEN SAID THREADED PORTION AND SAID JARRING MEANS, SAIDSLEEVE HAVING THREADS AT ITS UPPER END FOR THREADED CONNECTION TO SAIDTHREADED PORTION WHEN IN A FIRST POSITION AND COOPERATING JARRING MEANSAT ITS LOWER END FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID JARRING MEANS ADJACENT TO THELOWER END OF SAID MANDREL WHEN AXIALLY